Hey, News-Changers, and happy Earth Day! Today’s actually the 50th anniversary of the holiday, and for the first time in its history, Earth Day is going digital -- because environmental action doesn’t stop, even if we’re stuck at home. Activists, performers, and artists are coming together for an empowering, inspiring, and communal three-day livestream mobilization. Join Earth Day Live, and find a digital rally near you, then keep scrolling to read the news and change the news.

The country is now experiencing a patchwork of reopenings, some of which are being conducted in phases at the state level. For example, some states are allowing businesses to reopen but not schools, or allowing businesses to operate under certain crowd-limiting guidelines.

On the other side of the argument, those who oppose the lifting of physical distancing measures fear that moving too quickly could potentially cause a rebound in the number of coronavirus cases, pushing the death toll even higher.

What Do Experts Say?

A lot of experts echo the fears of a coronavirus resurgence. Guidance from the CDC and FEMA on reopening the country suggest that communities should only begin phased reopening if they have low levels of infection, a “well-functioning” system for widespread testing and monitoring, and a public health system with the capacity to handle a rapid surge in cases. Even then, this approach would still inherently “entail a significant risk of resurgence of the virus.”

Take Action: You can still make a difference, even if you’re practicing physical distancing. Fight anxiety, social isolation, and more through our COVID-19 digital campaigns.

“One World: Together At Home” Concert Draws 21 Million Viewers, $128 Million in Donations

Dozens of celebrities and musicians participated in “One World: Together At Home,” a special benefit concert to raise funds for coronavirus relief efforts.

The event aired as a 2-hour TV special across four different broadcast networks and a 9-hour livestream across several streaming platforms. An estimated 21 million viewers tuned-in for musical performances and powerful messages from global leaders, all while celebrating the frontline workers battling COVID-19.

Take Action: Global Citizen also has a ton of campaigns you can do from home to stand against the coronavirus -- from stopping the spread of fake COVID-19 news to urging G20 states for new funds to fight the virus.

The students were inspired to take action after their seminars and clinical rotations were cancelled for the semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using an on-campus makerspace equipped with 3-D printers, laser cutters, and other tools, the team developed a mass production process for custom face shields.

They’re providing the equipment to rural clinics in the western part of North Carolina, and their order numbers continue to increase. The group has even received a local grant to start making test swabs as well.

Medical facilities all over the country are facing shortages in staff, medical supplies, and PPE, but for medically underserved
regions (many of which are in rural and lower-income areas), the impact is felt especially hard. The work of these UNC students is helping to keep these clinics operational, as many depend solely on them for health care within geographically-isolated communities.